THE COLOUR OF AUTHORITY

Tyranny is slowly but surely seeping into our country and we are simply too scared to do anything. The three arms of democracy have been pissed on and thrown to the dogs. There is no Legal equality, no Political freedom and most importantly no rule of law. Colour of authority a term used in the US in its simplest definition is when a person claims the unlawful act he is committing is legitimized by his role in government. When police go on a rampage and brutalize civilians they are practicing the colour of authority.
Our justice system is frayed. As long as the police are operating within the colour of law they will continue to brutalize and kill us. Who is at fault, though?

The government is at fault “People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.”
― George Orwell
The government has shut its eyes numerous times before when it comes to police brutality. Rarely if ever will an investigation be carried out. There is some serious human rights violation going on with the police but the government has chosen toturn a blind eye. It has turned into a game of politics, the innocent caught in the crossfire are collateral damage while the government and opposition blame each other. We need our government to act. We understand that when a police officer becomes brutal, it is normally his choice. However, the government should make sure that these people face the consequences of their actions. They should ensure the police have been retrained to observe respect for human life, fundamental treatments, and dignity of the Kenyan citizens.

The police are at faultThe nationalist not only does not disapprove of atrocities committed by his own side, but he has a remarkable capacity for not even hearing about them.
-George Orwell

The police have shifted from seeking out criminals to attacking innocent people. A photo of a man with a paint brush with his head bleeding profusely is doing rounds on social media. Was that criminal? Do criminals walk around brandishing paint brushes ready to shoot the police with paint? Our police have been operating within the colour of authority. But doing something illegal with the backing of the law does not make it lawful. Police violence is not lawful! Everyone in the country should be held accountable for their actions. Right now the police are above the law. They work with obvious impunity and the worst punishment ever meted on them is a transfer. What service are they rendering when they are kicking people and bashing their heads in? Do we have an arm of government that deals with the prosecution of these brutal officers? If there is one how many have been prosecuted so far. There should be investigation, public apologies to the people brutalize, compensation for the ones wrongly accused and have credible and independent prosecutions of the people on the wrong.

We as the citizen are at fault In our age, there is no such thing as ‘keeping out of politics.’ All issues are political issues, and politics itself is a mass of lies, evasions, folly, hatred, and schizophrenia.
– George Orwell.
The citizens have failed this nation. We sit in our little sand castles and talk about how the people should not have been demonstrating in the first place. We are a scared bunch who would rather live our lives never fighting for anything. That is the mindset that is killing us. That is why we give bribes instead of going to courtrooms; because we are ok with failed systems. We care little for what the government does. As long as we cower in our little homes and speak the right things our kids will not be murdered. But even in this cowardice, we fail to see that our kids are being killed in the streets while the masterminds are stuck in an office with suits bursting at the seams. We are content with the middle-class mindset that politics is not cool while nursing a beer and drowning in debt. This life is perfect until they knock on your door to tell you your son has been killed while coming home from the library. Maybe then you will speak out and stop this tribal buffoonery.

It has been argued that people provoke police to violence. That they don’t respect police and they vandalize property. Of course, there are certain situations provided in the constitution for the police to use reasonable force. But does this give the police the authority to brutalize innocent people? If our democracy has failed us then we need to go back to the days of our forefathers where we used an eye for an eye. Probably that would work since clearly putting justice in the hands of a few is clearly not working.

In conclusion, we need to speak out. We need to condemn these brutalities because today it could be me and tomorrow you. And when the police find you on the street they will not ask what tribe you come from or if you are innocent. Your head will simply hit the gravel and you may breathe your last.

After all is said and done “Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.”
― Isaac Asimov

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Published by andanje

I write about life as I see it. Gravitating from works of fiction to women empowerment. I find contentment in the simple things, reading a good book, writing, taking a walk, going out with friends and solitude.
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